This weekend ORUMC begins a series based upon United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase's book FIVE PRACTICES OF FRUITFUL CONGREGATIONS.   Our topic this week is radical hospitality, or as we at ORUMC call it "Christ-like Hospitality".    Radical, Christ-like hospitality is inviting, welcoming and caring for people in Jesus' name.   It is offering a gracious welcome and showing acts of mercy to the stranger/guest because we have received the very same by Jesus Christ.   People need to experience first-hand and see in action Jesus Christ in flesh and blood every day reality before they will take a further step of trust into a Christian community.    Radical, Christ-like hospitality offers an opportunity and responsibility for Christians to be Christ to the guest....to the stranger....to the seeker.  It invites another to begin the journey of faith with a specific community of believers, who realize and affirm that they have been so blessed to receive from Jesus undeserved mercy and grace that they cannot help but share this same welcoming grace

Romans 15:7 encourages us this way:  "Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."    Or, again, in Matthew's gospel (chapter 25) we hear Jesus saying, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me...."    What a transformation should come to our welcoming, greeting, and practice of hospitality when we realize in welcoming another we are welcoming Jesus!    Wow!  That raises the bar for sure!  

How are you practicing Christ-like radical hospitality?  Do others see Jesus in how you greet and treat them?    Do we really realize that when we welcome another person (stranger, guest, or friend) we are welcoming Christ?     I pray that we will be more conscious of how we greet strangers (and each other) by remembering the radical hospitality that Christ has shown to us.    And, I hope we, as Christians, will go out of our way to invite and welcome strangers and guests....remembering that the simplist of kind gestures (friendly smile; a word of welcome; a handshake) can actually lead to an eternal difference in another's life and living!
One more thing:   If you are a member/attender at Oak Ridge UMC I would love to have you respond to the following questions (either on this blog page or e-mail me at  michael.kurtz@oakridgeumc.org ):     What caused you to first visit ORUMC?    Why did you stay?      And, if this applies:   What obstacles made it difficult to feel like you belong?   Thanks for your feedback,  Michael